The KARS Program and the Kansas Biological Survey have added new online geo-processing tools to help energy developers estimate potential new landscape impact associated with oil/gas, wind, and electric transmission lines. The tools are part of the Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (SGP CHAT) and are in support of the Lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) Range-Wide Conservation Plan that aims to conserve the species and preclude its listing as a Threatened species. In accordance with the Range Wide Plan, enrolled participants who, through the creation of new oil/gas wells, wind turbines, transmission lines…, negatively impact LPC habitat are assessed a ...

In cooperation with the five state fish and wildlife agencies that fall within the range of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LEPC), and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), the KARS program has launched version 2.0 of the Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (SGP CHAT), which can be found here. The online map viewer hosts the SGP CHAT, which is the spatial representation of the LEPC range-wide conservation plan, and a tool that prioritizes conservation actions while assisting with the siting of industry development. Through the identification of a network of core LEPC habitat areas (Focal ...